UK weather maps turn icy blue as -5C Arctic freeze hits | Weather | News
According to weather maps, a freezing cold air mass moving rapidly across Europe towards the UK will drop temperatures to -5C and hit 12 cities the hardest. Icy conditions are expected to hit on December 26, when many people head out to watch football matches and horse races or shop Boxing Day sales, new maps show.
In Scotland, icy conditions will likely affect the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Inverness and Stirling, according to WXCharts maps created on December 12 using Met Desk data. South of the border in England and Wales, Manchester, Preston, Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff are likely to see the mercury fall.
By comparison, Northern Ireland will experience relatively mild temperatures, according to the maps, with records around 5 degrees expected in Belfast.
New WXCharts maps show much of the north and west of the UK is facing freezing conditions. The maps also show that cold weather, apparently originating from Scandinavia and Russia, has engulfed much of Northern Europe.
Separately, the Met Office’s long-term forecast, looking at the days between December 17 and December 26, reads: “Unstable at first with showers or long spells of rain affecting England from time to time. Heavy rain is possible everywhere, but is likely to be heaviest and most persistent in the west and north-west; sheltered parts of the east and south-east are generally drier.”
“Snow is likely to remain on high ground in the north. Strong winds are also possible, with the risk of storms at times, particularly along the coast and on higher ground.
“Temperatures are likely to be generally above normal. Later in the period conditions may start to calm down a bit, rainfall amounts may decrease and drier weather may become more common. This could mean increased amounts of fog and frost overnight.”
With a milder and wetter start to December so far, the Met Office has warned of flooding and heavy rain that could cause travel chaos in parts of the UK this weekend. Flooding and travel disruptions are expected in parts of western Scotland and northwest England on Saturday due to “heavy and persistent rain”, the agency said.
The forecaster warned the washout would likely lead to power outages, flooding and travel delays. A yellow weather warning has been issued for Saturday afternoons and there is a chance of more than 100mm of rainfall.
Cumbria is expected to be the worst-hit area, with the Met Office saying “more than 200mm of rain could accumulate in some places during this 48-hour period”.
Rain will fall in western Scotland late on Saturday morning, with winds of up to 60-70 miles per hour expected in coastal areas.
Tonight and Tonight:
The clouds and rain in the south-east are clearing and patchy fog and frost in southern England and Wales leaving a clear night for most people. Showers will drift northwestward, accompanied by strong winds and possibly thunder.
Saturday:
Persistent, heavy rain is moving northwestward throughout Saturday, with coastal storms locally severe. Further southeast it is dry and sunny, with light winds but a cooler day than late.
Outlook from Sunday to Tuesday:
Heavy rain continues in the northwest on Sunday; The southeast is drier, but cloudier and windier than Saturday. Starting next week, the rain will gradually move towards the southeast and will be followed by showers.
